Sealed door leveling system



13, 1970 H. E. CLEMENTS ET AL 3,488,883

SEALED DOOR LEVELING SYSTEM 5 shets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1968 I N VEN TORS.

W mm QM L CE W "m MW NN mm Y mm AE HH Jan. 3,1970 H. E.CLEMENTS E L 3,488,883

S EALED DOOR LEVELING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1968 INVENTORS.

HARRY ERNST CLEMENTS 3y HENRY JOHN PIEGZA mm%. W

ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1970 H. E.C.L EMENTS ET AL SEAIJED DOOR LEVELING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1968 N VEN TORS.

W Mm E QN um W C T mfl R0 E u YY RR RN AE HH United States Patent Ofifice 3,488,883 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 US. Cl. 49-246 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A leveling system fora pivotally supported door construction permitting accurate mating of annular door sealing surfaces. The system includes hinge support micro adjustment means to insure concentricity of annular door sealing surfaces and a yieldable connection between the door and hinge support to insure coplaner positioning of door sealing surfaces when the door is pivoted to a closed position.

Description of the invention There is presently available a door construction for high pressure process vessels which includes a generally ring-like mounting or shell extension which is adapted to be affixed to the shell of a pressure vessel; a door or pressure vessel head, which is supported on the mounting for ivotal movement between open and closed positions and is provided with annular sealing means adapted to cooperate with annular sealing means provided on the mounting when the door is pivoted into a closed position; and a locking ring, which is adapted to be rotatably supported on the mounting for the purpose of locking the door in closed position. The door and locking ring are fitted with cooperating wedge systems, which when the ring is rotated, are engaged to positively force the sealing means of the door and mounting intofirm sealing engagement.

Heretofore, difiiculty has been encountered in btaining or maintaining concentricity of the door and mounting sealing means and coplaner positioning of such sealing means when the door is pivoted to closed position. This results not only in improper sealing of the door, and seal damage, but in improper alignment of the locking wedge systems, which tends to produce binding between the wedge systems and in extreme cases may prevent closing of the door.

The magnitude of the problem involved in employing a conventional single hinge pivot arrangement for doors of this type will be appreciated when it is considered that for a door having a diameter of upwards of feet, a slight door tilt of only one degree will result in difierential spacing of upwards of three inches between the mounting seal and diametrically opposed portions of the door seal.

Improper alignment problems may be built into such door structures, due to stresses set up within the door, hinge and mounting during welding of the hinge to the mounting and door, or may be encountered subsequent to fabrication, due to jarring of the door construction during shipment thereof, to a point of use or due to wear within the door hinge joint.

Summary of the invention The present invention is directed towards a leveling system for a door construction of the type disclosed above and provides for micro adjustment of the door in both vertical and horizontal planes to insure concentricity of the door and mounting sealing means. The invention further contemplates the provision of a multi pivot axes hinge arrangement in combination with a yieldable connection between the door and its hinge support to permit limited movement of the door upon seating thereof to insure coplaner relationship between mating door and mounting surfaces.

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following description, together with the accompanying drawings wherein: I

The drawings FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a side hinged door construction embodying the leveling system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the door construction illustrated in FIG. 1 with portions broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a top hinged door construction embodying elements of the leveling system of the present invention, with portions broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the wedge locking system of the door construction;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 66 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an improper seating condition often experienced in conventional door constructions;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the door construction illustrated in FIG. 1, but showing several design modifications; and

FIGS. 9a and 9b are sectional views taken generally along lines 9-9 in FIG. 1 showing the locking ring in unlocked and locked positions, respectively.

Description The door construction for which the leveling system of the present invention is adapted for use is generally designated as 1 in the drawings and includes a generally ring like mounting or shell extension 2, which is adapted to be welded or otherwise aflixed to the shell of a high pressure vessel 3 in the area designated by line 4; a door or pressurevessel head, which is generally designated as 5 and adapted to be pivotally supported on mounting 2 by a hinge construction generally designated as 6; and a locked ring which is generally designated as 7 and adapted to be rotatably supported on mounting 2. While for purposes of illustration, vessel 3 is shown as being supported in a horizontal position by means of a suitable stand 8 afiixed thereto as by welding, it will be understood that the axis of the vessel may be vertically positioned without adversely effecting operation of the leveling system to be described. Also, it will be understood that door construction 1 may be either initially joined to a pres sure vessel whereafter the fully assembled vessel is shipped to a point of use, or the door construction subsequently joined to a previously positioned vessel.

The structure of mounting 2, which is conventional, is shown particularly in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 as including a radially extending annular flange 9, which is provided with spaced, radially extended machined surfaces 10 and 11. Radially extended surface 10 is preferably formed with an annular extending slot recess 12, which is disposed concentrically of the axis of mounting 2 and adapted to receive a compressible sealing gasket 13, whose composition and configuration may vary depending upon service conditions for which the door construction is designed.

Locking ring 7, which is also of conventional design, is shown particularly at FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 9a and 9b, as being of generally U-shaped cross section wherein radially inwardly extending leg portions 14 and 15 are adapted to straddle mounting flange 9. The inwardly facing, radially extending surface of leg portion 14 is shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 9a and 9b as being positioned in slidable surface engagement with mounting flange surface 11 by means of a plurality of guide rollers 16 carried on mounting 2. Locking ring 7 is mounted for rotation on mounting 2 about an axis in alignment therewith by means of a plurality of rollers 17 which are journaled on leg portion 14. When locked ring 7 is thus positioned, the inwardly facing radially extending surface of leg portion is maintained in a facing, spaced relationship with respect to mounting surface 10.

Locking ring leg portion 15 is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 9a and 9b as being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced through slot openings 18, which define intermediate portions 19 provided on the inwardly facing surfaces thereof with suitably aifixed hardened, tapered wedge elements 20.

Rotation of locking ring 7 between a door unlocked position, indicated in FIG. 9a, and a door locked position, indicated in FIG. 9b may be eifected by any suitable means, such as one or more fluid operated cylinders 21, which are supported on mounting 2 by means of weldments 22 and pin connections 23, and are provided with rods pin-connected, as at 24, to ring weldments 25.

Door 5 is also shown in the drawing as being of conventional construction, wherein a radially extending annular flange 26 is provided with a radially extending surface 27 machined to define an annularly disposed sealing rib 28. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4, 9a and 917, it will be understood that door flange 26 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced through slot openings 29, which define intermediate portions 30 on which are mounted hardened, tapered, wedge elements 31. It will also be understood that when door 5 is moved into a closed position, as indicated in FIG. 9a, intermediate portions 30 are adapted to pass through ring slot openings 18 to place mounting flange surface 10 and door flange surface 27 in juxtaposition with sealing rib 28 and gasket 13 being disposed in alignment and with the surfaces of wedge elements 20 and 31 being disposed in a facing, circumferentially spaced relationship. Thereafter, when locking ring is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 32 into its locked position shown in FIG. 9b, the surfaces of wedge elements cooperate to force door rib 28 into operable sealing engagement with mounting gasket 13.

Alternatively, sealing rib 28 may be omitted and gasket 13 replaced by a protruding sealing ring of O shaped section.

Preferably, the cooperating surfaces of wedge elements 20 and 31 are inclined at an angle of about 2 /2 with respect to mounting flange surface 10 for pressure vessels adapted to withstand pressures of upwards of about 500 p.s.i. and at an angle of about 1 /z for greater vessel pressures.

For purposes of reference, a single pivot axis hinge construction heretofore provided for door constructions of the type under consideration is shown schematically in FIG. 7 as including a first hinge portion 33 weld aflixed to mounting 2 and a second hinge portion 34 which is weld aflixed to door 5 and pivotably joined to first hinge portion 33 by suitable pivot shaft 35. FIG. 7 further illustrates an improper door seating condition, which is ofttimes encountered when employing single pivot axis hinge constructions, because of slight original misalignment or wear of pivot shaft 35 or the misalignment or subsequent damage of hinge portions 33 or 34. Specifiically, door flange surface 27 is shown as being tilted, the degree of tilt being magnified for purposes of clarity, with respect to mounting flange surface 10 when door 5 is moved to a closed position. This condition is undesirable, since there results non-uniform seating of door rib 28 on gasket 13 and thus lack of uniform sealing cooperation therebetween. Also, it is likely that binding will occur between the door and locked ring wedge elements 20 and 31, and possible failure of door construction components due to the unequal distribution of stresses when it is attempted to rotate the locking ring into its locked position.

Improper seating conditions of the type described above are overcome by means of the modified hinge construction illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein a third hinge portion, generally indicated as 36, is mounted on door 5 centrally of door flange 26 and hinge joined to second hinge portion 34 for movement about the axis of a second pivot shaft 37, which is in turn disposed substantially parallel to the axis of first pivot shaft 35. Uncontrolled movement of door 5 about pivot shaft 37 is prevented by a pair of yieldable members 38 which are in the form of flat metal strips having the ends thereof joined, respectively, to door 5 adjacent door flange 26, and to second hinge portion 34 adjacent first pivot shaft 35. Yieldable members 38 are shown in the drawings as having a generally U-shaped bend intermediate the ends thereof to increase their flexibility.

By employing yieldable members 38, door 5 is permitted when pivoted to a closed position to readily adjust itself with respect to the axis of second pivot shaft 37, in order to permit uniform operative engagement between door rib 28 and sealing gasket 13, and to insure initial proper positioning of the door and mounting flange surfaces in a coplaner relationship. The double pivot shaft arrangement additionally permits door 5 to move without tilting between its closed unlocked position, indicated in FIG. 9a, and its closed locked position indicated in FIG. 9b, in order to permit uniform cooperation between the locking wedge elements as the locking ring is rotated into locked position. The provision of yieldable members 38 have been found to be absolutely necessary for doors which are remotely operated, as for instance by fluid pressure cylinder 40 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, or where the door is too heavy or bulky to permit a workman to close the door with the aid of handle 41, While effecting proper adjusting movement thereof about pivot shaft 37.

A second undesirable condition which ofttimes results from employing single axis hinge structures of the type mentioned above, is that upon closing of door 5 there is a lack of concentricity of door rib 28 and sealing gasket 13, and locking wedge elements 20, 31. Concentricity is insured by the structure of the present invention, which is shown particularly in FIG. 1 as including means, such as an adjustment screw 42, which is adapted to reciprocate first pivot shaft 35 axially thereof with respect to first hinge portion bearing members 43 and 44 in order to adjustably position door 5 with respect to mounting 2 in a first direction, indicated by arrows 45. Rather than mounting second hinge portion 34 for reciprocating movement with pivot shaft 35, it may be journaled thereon and suitable means, not shown, employed to reciprocate the second hinge portion axially thereof.

Door 5 may be adjustable positioned with respect to mounting 2 in a second direction normal to the axis of pivot shaft 35, as indicated by arrows 46 in FIG. 1, by modifying the hinge construction illustrated in FIG. 3, to provide second hinge portion 34 with a bore opening 47, which is adapted to receive pivot shaft 37 whose respective ends project outwardly beyond spaced hinge portion surfaces 48 and 49. Second hinge portion 34 is further provided with first and second pairs of flange elements 50, 50a and 51, 51a, which are disposed on spaced hinge surfaces 48 and 49, respectively, adjacent the outwardly projecting ends of shaft 37 in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6. The flanges of each pair of elements 50, 50a and 51, 51a are provided with pairs of aligned openings threaded to receive pairs of adjustment screws 52, 52a and 53, 5311. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6,-third hinge portion 36 includes spaced hinge elements 54 and 55, which are disposed adjacent spaced surfaces 48 and 49 at a point intermediate flange elements 50, 50a and 51, 510, respectively, and provided with slot openings 56 which are adapted to receive the projected ends of shaft 37. It will be understood by referring to FIG. 6, that adjustment screws 52, 52a and 53, 53a are disposed on opposite sides of the axis of shaft 37 and in engagement with hinge elements 54 and 55, respectively, and that upon uniform adjustment of such screws, the respective ends of pivot shaft 37 may be moved or translated with respect to both of binge element slots 56, in order to effect movement of door 5 in a direction normal to the axis of first pivot shaft 35. Alternatively, adjustment screws 52, 52a and 53, 53a may be independently adjusted to effect unequal displacement of the ends of pivot shaft 37 Within the respective slots 54 of hinge elements 54 and 55 in order to obtain a slight clockwise or counter-clockwise tilting of door 5 with respect to mounting 2, as viewed in FIG. 1.

Preferably, friction reducing washers 57 are provided to space hinge elements 54, 55 from hinge surfaces 48, 49 and shaft locking nuts 58.

It will be apparent by referring to FIG. 5, that the adjustment screws although restraining undesired movement of the projecting ends of shaft 37 lengthwise of hinge element slots 56, do however permit slight rotation of hinge elements 54, 55 with respect to the axis of shaft 37 during seating of door 5 in its closed position in order to permit yieldable members 38 to function in the manner described above.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative locking ring actuator, wherein a rack segment 59 is carried on locking ring 7 and a pinion, not shown, is mounted on operating shaft 60, which is in turn journaled on mounitng Weldment 61. An operator may manually rotate locking ring 7 between its locked and unlocked position by rotating a suitable tool, not shown, placed over the outwardly projecting end of shaft 60 to effect operation of the pinion rack arrangement in a conventional manner.

FIG. 7 further illustrates a modified hinge construction, wherein only one pair of adjustment screws 62 are provided for each pair of flange elements 50, 50a and 51, 51a. In this modification the axis of screws 62 intersect with the axis of shaft 37.

While there has been described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, numerous additions to or modifications thereof will become apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is wished that the scope of protection for the present invention be limited only by the appended claims, wherein:

1. In a door construction including:

a generally ring-like door construction mounting having a radially extending first annular flange which is provided on one radially extending surface thereof with an annularly extending first sealing means disposed concentrifically of the axes of said mounting;

a locking ring of generally U-shaped section having radially inwardly extending annular leg portions adapted to straddle said first flange, said locking ring being supported for rotation on said mounting about an axis aligned with the axis of said mounting between unlocked and locked positions, one of said leg portions being disposed in a spaced facing relationship to said first flange surface and have circumferential spaced slot openings therethrough, portions of said one leg portion intermediate said slot openings having wedges surface portions facing said first flange surface;

a door having a radially extending second annular flange which is provided on a radially extending surface thereof with an annularly extending second sealing means, said second flange having circumferentially spaced slot openings therethrough, portions of said second flange flange intermediate said slot openings having wedge surface portions disposed on a surface thereof spaced from second flange surface, said second flange intermediate portions being adapted to be passed through said ring slot Openings when said ring is in said unlocked position to place said first and second flange surfaces in juxtaposition with said first and second sealing means being disposed in alignment and with said wedge surface portions being disposed in facing circumferentially spaced relationship;

a hinge construction adapted to support said door on said mounting for pivotable movement between an open position and a closed position, when said ring is in said unlocked position, to pass said second flange intermediate portion through said ring slot openings, said hinge construction having first and second hinge portions, said first hinge portion being affixed to said mounting adjacent said first flange, and said second hinge portion having one end thereof joined to said first hinge portion for movement about a first pivot axis and another end thereof joined to said door;

and means adapted to rotate said locking ring with respect to said mounting and said door from said unlocked to said locked position, whereby when said door is in said closed position, said wedge surface portions cooperate to effect operative engagement of said first and second sealing means;

the improvement which comprises a third hinge portion carried on said door, said second hinge portion being hinge joined adjacent said another end thereof to said third hinge portion for movement about a second pivot axis disposed parallel to said first pivot axis; and means yieldably interconnecting said door adjacent said flange portion thereof to said second hinge portion at a point intermediate said pivot axes, said yieldable means being adapted to limit movement of said door about said second pivot axis.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said yieldable means is in the form of a flat metal strip having the ends thereof joined to said door and said second hinge portion respectively, said strip having a generally U-shaped bend intermediate the ends thereof.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

means are provided to adjust said second hinge portion with respect to said first hinge portion axially of said first pivot axis to adjustably position said door with respect to said mounting in a first direction; and

means are provided to adjust said third hinge portion with respect to second hinge portion transversely of said second pivot axis to effect adjustment of said door with respect to said mounting in a direction normal to said first direction.

4. The improvement according to claim 3, wherein:

said second hinge portion adjacent said another end thereof is bored to receive a pivot shaft having the respective ends thereof projecting outwardly beyond spaced surfaces of said second hinge portion, said second hinge portion is provided with first and second pairs of flange elements disposed one pair on each of said spaced surfaces adjacent an outwardly projecting end of said shaft, flanges of each said pair of elements having alignment openings threaded to receive adjustment screws, said third hinge portion includes spaced hinge elements, said hinge elements being disposed one adjacent each said spaced surface at a point intermediate flanges of one of said pair of elements and having a slot opening adapted to receive a projecting end of said shaft and screws of each said pair of elements being adapted to engage said intermediate hinge element to eifect translation of said shaft ends with respect to said slots.

7 v a V 8 a ,5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein: p I v References Cited two pairs of adjustment screw receiving openings are UNITED STATES PATENTS provided for each said pair of elements, aligned openings of each pair of openings being disposed 1,688,570 10/1928 Wllllams 22037 X on opposite sides of the axis of said shaft and 5 2,108,238 2/1938 Strelow 49246 X adjustment screws received within said openings 2,583,073 1/ 1952' Ahlbfml being independently operable to efiect rotation of 2,601,936 7/1952 Hams X "2,941,236 6/1960 Monroe et a1 22034 X said shaft ends with respect to said slots;

6. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein: said yieldable means is in the form of a fiatmetal 10 KARL BELL Pnmary Exammer strip having the ends thereof joined to said door and U S C1 X R said second hinge portion respectively, said strip ,220 30 5 37 having a generally U-shaped bend intermediate the ends thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,488 ,883 January 13 1970 Harry Ernst Clements et al. It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 65, cancel "flange", second occurrence.

should read portions Signed and sealed this 10th day of November 1970.

Column 6, line 13, "portion" (SEAL) Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer "wedges" should read wedge line 73 

